Press release
Zoom Opens Nominations for First U.S. Solopreneur 50 List, Recognizing AI-First Solo Business Leaders
Inaugural grant and recognition program from Zoom highlights solopreneur success and scalability through AI integration and adaptation SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan.
About this update from Zoom Communications, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Inaugural grant and recognition program from Zoom highlights solopreneur success and scalability through AI integration and adaptation\nSAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Zoom opens nominations for its Zoom Solopreneur 50 List (ZSP50), a first-of-its-kind recognition and grant program celebrating the individuals who are redefining entrepreneurship by building and growing businesses on their own. Nominations are open until 5 p.m. ET on February 13, 2026. Individuals can nominate themselves or others by completing a short form at zoom.com/solo50. The ZSP50 will honor 50 trailblazing “businesses of one” across the U.S. — independent creators, consultants, educators, inventors, and innovators using technology, ingenuity, and purpose to make an outsized impact. For business owners working alone, this is the opportunity to be part of a select group of doers with similar drive and grit. “AI is expanding what a single person can accomplish,” said Kimberly Storin, Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom. “Solopreneurs are using AI to remove friction, move faster, reach further, and operate with a level of sophistication that used to be out of reach. The Solopreneur 50 recognizes the builders proving that scale today is driven by capability, not company size. Zoom is focused on enabling that future.” Scaling Solos with AI There are over 30MM small businesses in the U.S., 82% of which operate without employees (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). For an increasing number of solopreneurs, AI has become a core operating capability, enhancing decision-making, execution, and customer engagement.Zoom, in partnership with Upwork, recently surveyed more than 1,000 small businesses (SMB), including solopreneurs, 64% of whom said they couldn’t be in business without AI. What’s more, 91% of small businesses saw a return on their AI investments within one year, and SMBs and solopreneurs report that AI has helped them reduce business costs (82%), increase customer acquisition (91%), and increase customer retention (87%). Many solopreneurs can quickly adopt and iterate with AI tools, unencumbered by legacy systems or lengthy approval processes, allowing them to test, learn, and apply new capabilities in real time. “Some of the most effective uses of AI aren’t coming from big companies – they’re solopreneurs,” said Lisa Scheiring, Global Small Bu...